Going places in yachting

The fun side of working on a superyacht is pretty obvious. You get to see the world, hang out with great people and make very good money. As well as tasting the lifestyle of the rich and famous without the cash.

More and more, working in the yachting industry is not just an excellent way of spending a gap year or a time out from real life but a proper career.

And, like all serious careers, the higher you go the more qualifications you need and the yachting industry is becoming more regulated all the time.

But there's also a real shortage of skilled, trained people to work on yachts. So, if you think this is the career for you, there are plenty of opportunities to go places.

Not sure?

Look at it this way. Do you get a kick out of working with cars? You might make a great engineer.

Working as a silver service waitress in a restaurant? You could be doing the same thing at sea and seeing the world.

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Crew positions

If you're thinking about a career at sea, this will give you a taste of what's involved and what you can expect to be paid.

Deckhand

A deckhand's duties may include maintenance of the hull, decks, and superstructure, mooring and cargo handling. They're also in charge of making the ship look presentable and perform mostly manual tasks.

Steward(ess)

The steward(ess)'s roles include stocking, cleaning and assisting with preparing and serving meals. They assist the chief steward(ess), and are closely involved with storeroom operations and are also typically in-charge of the ship's linens.

Chief steward(ess)/Purser

The chief steward(ess), or Purser, is responsible for all administration and supply. They direct, instruct, and assign personnel while overseeing cleaning, the officer's quarters and steward department areas. Pursers also plan menus, compile supplies, overtime, and cost control records. The cooks and stewards frequently answer to them, and they may be responsible for the purchase of stores and equipment.

Chef

The chef, or chief cook, is a senior unlicensed crew-member who, as you'd expect, directs and participates in the preparation and serving of meals. Their duties may overlap with those of the chief steward(ess) and also involve taking inventory of stores and equipment.

Assistant engineer

The assistant engineer, also known as the second engineer, is responsible for supervising the daily maintenance and operation of the engine department. They report directly to the Chief Engineer and are typically the busiest engineer onboard.

Chief engineer

The chief engineer is someone who is qualified to oversee the entire engine department. They're responsible for all operations and maintenance as well as determining what fuel, lube oil, and other consumables are required. Engineers oversee all major maintenance and are required to be in the engine room during maneuvering operations.

First officer

The first officer or first mate, is usually a watch-stander, 2nd in command, and in charge of the ship's cargo and deck crew. They're responsible to the captain for the safety and security of the ship. Responsibilities can include the crew's welfare and training in areas such as safety, firefighting, search and rescue.

Captain

The Captain is in charge of the ship at sea. They hold enormous legal powers and are responsible for all aspects of a ship underway. At sea, they have complete command and responsibility for everyone on board.